by Susan | Aug 30, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Insect Patterns
I first discovered the Mourning Cloak butterfly during my trip with Hannah to the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden this summer. I learned that this big, bold, butterfly actually overwinters in Maine. This is a one-sided ornament that I turned into a magnet. Repeat the...
by Susan | Aug 22, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
In our neck of the woods, the nights have suddenly turned crisp – a reminder that we’re on the downside of summer. The stores have dishes, signs, and textiles featuring trucks loaded with pumpkins. While I’m not ready to break out the pumpkin spice,...
by Susan | Jun 28, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Insect Patterns
I enjoy designing patterns that are realistic looking. I didn’t quite hit the mark with the dragonfly. It was a challenge with their see-through iridescent wings; I opted for white. Make the body any color that suits your fancy. In my test dragonfly pictured, I...
by Susan | May 10, 2020 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
A friend shared a photo of a Magnolia Warbler on Instagram. Intrigued, I sat down yesterday to design one. This morning, as I was cutting out the pieces to sew him, I spotted a flash of yellow out the window. I popped up to take a closer look – a Magnolia...
by Susan | Apr 28, 2020 | Collage, Felt Patterns, Squares
This collage card started with a felt square design. Yet when it came time to make it, I was more interested in creating it from paper than I was from felt. The tree is created from magazine text torn from the magazine to mimic a birch tree. As I did with my Puffins...
by Susan | Apr 26, 2020 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
I have a “to-do” list for my backyard bird books, but lately, my inspiration wants to go other directions (see last weekend’s puffin square). Today, I buckled down to create the Red-bellied Woodpecker and check it off my list before I venture into...
by Susan | Apr 19, 2020 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Squares
Earlier in the year, I designed the Felt Loon at Cadillac square. At the time, it was a one-off type of thing. A few days ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with designs for two more felt squares clearly outlined in my mind. I grabbed my iPhone and emailed...
by Susan | Apr 15, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Insect Patterns
Yesterday, after I’d finagled my morning coffee from a camp stove on the porch due to the power outage, I sat down and designed this little Bumble Bee. Since starting on butterflies a couple of years ago, this has been a much-requested design – a perfect...
by Susan | Apr 12, 2020 | Video
With a little extra time last weekend, I decided to make a video about how to make one of my felt bird designs. How hard could it be? I’ve been making the birds for years. Despite having a daughter who is a cinema major, I wanted to do this myself. I borrowed...
by Susan | Apr 1, 2020 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
Another project for these COVID Quarantine days as I work my way through the list of birds I want to create for a backyard bird pattern book. Enjoy! And please stay as safe as possible in these crazy times. Carolina WrenDownload Now!2099...
by Susan | Mar 23, 2020 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
How quickly the world changes. Two weeks ago, I was planning a trip to my folks in Pennsylvania. I’d be there today if it weren’t for Covid-19 or the Coronavirus. Instead, I’m hunkered down with my family, working from home as are many of you. So...
by Susan | Mar 1, 2020 | Bird Patterns, Felt Patterns, Perching Bird Patterns
A shy bird, the Song Sparrow is native to North America and can be found in most areas of the United States. Tucked into the woods the way we are, we are more likely to hear their song than see them. Enjoy! Song SparrowDownload Now!1877...
by Susan | Feb 2, 2020 | Critter Patterns, Felt Patterns
I loved this recent pattern suggestion given the devastating extent of the recent bush fires in Australia. So the Charismatic Kangaroo joins his fellow Australian, The Kindly Koala, as a free pattern. If you decide to make a Charismatic Kangaroo or Kindly Koala,...
by Susan | Jan 16, 2020 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns, Squares, Waterfowl and Seabird Patterns
The inspiration for this project was a painted coaster I spotted in a gift shop a couple of years ago. My design has the silhouette of Cadillac Mountain in the background with a full moon. The day after drawing this design, Hannah and I visited Schoodic, where...
by Susan | Dec 9, 2019 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
My dreaming and scheming for the WHRL Christmas Tree Festival left me with more ideas than I had time (or energy) for. One of those thoughts was a wreath filled with a village of little New England houses. I never got beyond the Little White Church. Rather than let it...
by Susan | Nov 22, 2019 | Felt Patterns, Other Patterns
After living in a 27’ camper with one man, a 5-year-old child, and a dog for more than a year while building the Maine House, I thought I’d never want to stay in a camper again. Yet, lately, I’ve begun to dream about a little retro camper that Paul and I could use for...
by Susan | Nov 8, 2019 | Critter Patterns, Felt Patterns, Sea Life
I’ve not had the pleasure of seeing a manatee in person, but they seem like such gentle giants. She’s been a popular pattern request over the years. You’ll find her an easy weekend project! Have fun! ManateeDownload Now!1175...
by Susan | Nov 1, 2019 | Critter Patterns, Felt Patterns
Thinking outside of the Downeast Maine box, here’s a Happy Hippo felt pattern for your weekend enjoyment. Have fun! HippopotamusDownload Now!1183...
by Susan | Oct 27, 2019 | Critter Patterns, Felt Patterns
Sitting and watching television is a challenge for me – I need something to do, or I fall asleep. Every time. When picking out movies, Paul and Hannah tell me, “We saw that one – you slept through it.” So this little Lop-eared, or Nubian goat,...
by Susan | Oct 5, 2019 | Felt Patterns, Sea Life
It’s not every day that I can jump on a pattern suggestion. The idea has to resonate with me, and I have to have time. These days I’m so time-poor, it’s almost silly. I received a request for a Chinook Salmon. Folks from the non-profit Port Townsend...
